Rinsho Shinkeigaku (Clinical Neurology)

Case Report

COVID-19-associated Guillain-Barré syndrome in infectious period: a case report

Katsuya Nishida, M.D.1), Kento Sakashita, M.D.1), Ayumi Uchibori, M.D., Ph.D.2), Atsuro Chiba, M.D., Ph.D.2) and Naonobu Futamura, M.D., Ph.D.1)

1) Division of Neurology, National Hospital Organization Hyogo-Chuo National Hospital
2) Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Kyorin University

A 75-year-old man with a history of hypertension developed weakness and sensory disturbance in the extremities 1 week after upper respiratory tract infection and faced difficulty walking. Screening at the time of hospital admission revealed an incidental positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test, and COVID-19 was diagnosed. Neurological findings showed dysarthria, dysphagia, absence of deep tendon reflexes in the extremities, distal-dominant muscle weakness, sensory disturbance, urinary retention and constipation. Nerve conduction studies showed prolonged distal latency, decreased conduction velocity, and poor F-wave response, leading to a diagnosis of COVID-19-associated Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). The patient was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin, and his neurological symptoms improved without the need of a ventilator. Anti-ganglioside autoantibodies were negative. The patient developed GBS during the infectious period of SARS-CoV-2 and was treated in the isolation ward by clinical staff with personal protective equipment. Because COVID-19-associated GBS can develop during the infectious period of SARS-CoV-2, it is important for neurologists to consider GBS and other neurological disorders as being potentially COVID-19-related, and to treat patients with COVID-19 accordingly.
Full Text of this Article in Japanese PDF (1051K)

(CLINICA NEUROL, 62: 293|297, 2022)
key words: Guillain-Barré syndrome, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, infectious period

(Received: 8-Oct-21)